Method for reloading a vertical launching system with missiles from a supply ship

ABSTRACT

A method of loading a cell of a vertical launching system missile launchern a combatant ship with a canistered missile from a supply ship wherein the canistered missile is transferred from the supply ship to a fixed guide on the deck of the combatant ship, upended in the guide, moved away to a position over the cell of the missile launcher, and then lowered into the cell.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to missile launching and moreparticularly, to methods for transferring a missile to a launcher.

In the past, the conventional method for reloading a vertical launchingsystem (VLS) with missiles from a supply ship has required numerous,time-consuming manhandling, repositioning, and preparatory operationscarried out in succession on the deck of a combatant ship beingreloaded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore one object of this invention to eliminate many of theseoperations or perform them on a supply ship where they will take placeoff the critical path.

It is another object to reduce the time required to reload a VLS.

The objects of the invention are achieved by a method of loading a cellof a VLS missile launcher with a canistered missile from a supply shipwherein the canistered missile is transferred from the supply ship to afixed guide on the deck of the combatant ship, upended in the guide,moved away to a position over the cell of the missile launcher, and thenlowered into the cell. A canistered missile is a missile sealed in acanister which serves as both a launch tube and shipping container forthe missile.

Advantages of this invention include the capability of achievingcanistered missile loading rates of 20 missiles per hour, and thereduced chance of injury to personnel or damage to the missile fromrough seas because manhandling of the loose canister or other heavyequipment on deck is eliminated.

Additional advantages and features will become more apparent as thesubject invention becomes better understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description when considered in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1 to 8 show the acts making up the various steps in an embodimentof the method of loading a cell of a VLS missile launcher on a combatantship with a canistered missile from a supply ship in accordance with theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1 to 8, a method of loading a cell of a VLS missilelauncher on a combatant ship with a canistered missile from a supplyship includes a first step 1 in which the canistered missile istransferred from the supply ship to a fixed guide on the deck of thecombatant ship.

While step 1 may take a variety of forms, conveniently it may take theform of conveying the canistered missile 11 from the supply ship (notshown) to the combatant ship 13 by means of a ropeway 15 using a firststrongback 17 (as shown in FIG. 1); positioning the canistered missile11 on the ropeway 15 over the fixed guide 19 (as shown in FIG. 2); andlowering the ropeway 15 to deposit the canistered missile 11 in theguide 19 (as shown in FIG. 3).

In step 2, the canistered missile is upended in the guide.

While step 2 may take a variety of forms, conveniently it may take theform of connecting a suspension cable 21 from a boom winch 23 to one endof the canistered missile 11 by means of a second strongback 25 (asshown in FIG. 3); disconnecting the first strongback 17 from thecanistered missile 11 (as shown in FIG. 4); raising the ropeway 15 andreturning the first strongback 17 to the supply ship (as shown in FIG.4); and hoisting the second strongback 25 by means of the boom winch 23to upend the canistered missile 11 in the guide 19 (shown in FIG. 4).

Next, step 3 is performed whereby the upended canistered missile ismoved away from the guide to a position over the cell of the missilelauncher.

While step 3 may take a variety of forms, conveniently it may take theform of attaching a pair of lines 27, 29 to diagonally opposite cornersof a collar 31 at the base of the upended canistered missile 11 (asshown in FIGS. 5 and 6); routing the free ends of the pair of lines 27,29 through a cell guide 33 mounted in the cell 35 and around one-wayrollers 37, 39 at the corners of the missile launcher 41 (as shown inFIGS. 5 and 6); and moving the boom 43 to position the upended canisterdmissile 11 over the cell 35 of the missile launcher 41 (as shown in FIG.7).

Finally, in step 4 the canistered missile is lowered into the cell.

While step 4 may take a variety of forms, conveniently it may take theform of rotating the canistered missile 11 on the suspension cable 21 bymeans of the pair of lines 27, 29 to align the canistered missile withthe cell guide 33 (as shown in FIG. 7); lowering the canistered missile11 into the cell guide 33 by means of the boom winch 23 (as shown inFIG. 8); and decoupling the collar to allow the canistered missile 11 tobe lowered though the collar and cell guide 33 to seat within the cell35 of the missile launcher 41 (as shown in FIG. 8).

Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is thereforeto be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, theinvention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically describedherein.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent ofthe United States is:
 1. A method of loading a cell of a verticallaunching system missile launcher on a combatant ship with a canisteredmissile from a supply ship comprising the steps of:(a) transferring thecanistered missile from the supply ship to a fixed guide on the deck ofthe combatant ship; (b) upending the canistered missile in the guide;(c) moving the upended canistered missile away from the guide to aposition over the cell of the missile launcher; and (d) lowering thecanistered missile into the cell.
 2. The method recited in claim 1wherein step (a) includes the step of:conveying the canistered missilefrom the supply ship to the combatant ship by means of a ropeway using afirst strongback.
 3. The method recited in claim 2 wherein step (a)includes the further step of:positioning the canistered missile on theropeway over the fixed guide.
 4. The method recited in claim 3 whereinstep (a) includes the further step of:lowering the ropeway to depositthe canistered missile in the guide.
 5. The method recited in claim 4wherein step (b) includes the step of:connecting a suspension cable froma boom winch to one end of the canistered missile by means of a secondstrongback.
 6. The method recited in claim 5 wherein step (b) includesthe further step of:disconnecting the first strongback from thecanistered missile.
 7. The method recited in claim 6 wherein step (b)includes the further step of:raising the ropeway and returning the firststrongback to the supply ship.
 8. A method of loading a cell of avertical launching system missile launcher on a combatant ship with acanistered missile from a supply ship comprising the steps of:(a)conveying the canistered missile from the supply ship to the combatantship by means of a ropeway using a first strongback; (b) positioning thecanistered missile on the ropeway over a fixed guide on the deck of thecombatant ship; (c) lowering the ropeway to deposit the canisteredmissile in the guide; (d) connecting a suspension cable from a boomwinch to one end of the canistered missile by means of a secondstrongback; (e) disconnecting the first strongback from the canisteredmissile; (f) raising the ropeway and returning the first strongback tothe supply ship; (g) hoisting the second strongback by means of the boomwinch to upend the canistered missile in the guide; (h) moving theupended canistered missile away from the guide to a position over thecell of the missile launcher; and (i) lowering the canistered missileinto the cell.
 9. The method recited in claim 8 wherein step (h)includes the step of:attaching a pair of lines to diagonally oppositecorners of a collar at the base of the upended canistered missile. 10.The method recited in claim 9 wherein step (h) includes the further stepof:routing the free ends of the pair of lines through a cell guidemounted in the cell and around one-way rollers at the corners of themissile launcher.
 11. The method recited in claim 10 wherein step (h)includes the further step of:moving the boom to position the upendedcanistered missile over the cell of the missile launcher.
 12. The methodrecited in claim 11 wherein step (i) includes the step of:rotating thecanistered missile on the suspension cable by means of the pair of linesto align the canistered missile with the cell guide.
 13. The methodrecited in claim 12 wherein step (i) includes the further step of:lowering the canistered missile into the cell guide by means of theboom winch.
 14. A method of loading a cell of a vertical launchingsystem missile launcher on a combatant ship with a canistered missilefrom a supply ship comprising the steps of:(a) conveying the canisteredmissile from the supply ship to the combatant ship by means of a ropewayusing a first strongback; (b) positioning the canistered missile on theropeway over a fixed guide on the deck of the combatant ship; (c)lowering the ropeway to deposit the canistered missile in the guide; (d)connecting a suspension cable from a boom winch to one end of thecanistered missile by means of a second strongback; (e) disconnectingthe first strongback from the canistered missile; (f) raising theropeway and returning the first strongback to the supply ship; (g)hoisting the second strongback by means of the boom winch to upend thecanistered missile in the guide; (h) attaching a pair of lines todiagonally opposite corners of a collar at the base of the upendedcanistered missile; (i) routing the free ends of the pair of linesthrough a cell guide mounted in the cell and around one-way rollers atthe corners of the missile launcher; (j) moving the boom to position theupended canistered missile over the cell of the missile launcher; (k)rotating the canistered missile on the suspension cable by means of thepair of lines to align the canistered missile with the cell guide; (1)lowering the canistered missile into the cell guide by means of the boomwinch; and (m) decoupling the collar to allow the canistered missile tobe lowered through the collar and cell guide to seat within the cell ofthe missile launcher.